Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1887-05-05

pertaining 10 farming. A
about nine o'clock the peddler wa
shown to large garrett under tn,
root, where he was to sleep.
The family retired, and nothing un
usual occurred until some time nea,
midnight. when the farmer was ava
kened by the barking of watch dog.
and the tramping of horses hoofs
he arose. and looked out the window
toward the barn, when an extraordi.
nary sight met his gaze. The dogs
sste iEssp adjoining isla. and ssranee
TO say, there appeared to be ghost
riding on one of the farmers youue
horses.
The farmer called the hired man,
and, on going to the garret with a
lantern, they found the bed, which
had been occupied. empty, and the
peddler gone, bat his clothes still
hanging on a chair, where he had ey-
identity placed them. The farmer and
hired man went down stairs, and found
that all the doors were locked as thev
were before they retired. Going out,
they found the horse still in full gall
lop under the direction of his mystic
rious rider.
The hired man watched his chance,
caught the animal, and, upon closer
examination, found that the rider was
the peddler, who sat there like a
stature, and was in complete state
OF somnambulism. He had nothing
on him except his shirt, undershirt,
drawers and stockings, and, notwith-
standing the coldness of the night, he
was perspiring freely when lifted
down. They could not waken him
properly until he was led into the
house, and when he came to bis senses,
ne seemed to know nothing of what
had occurred. He seemed startled at
being out of bed and down stars in
such apparel.
Subsequent examination showed
that the man, in his strange state,
had worked his way out of trap.
door to the roof, and thence down to
roof Of back building. and thence
Not long since, William Lewis, a
farmer near indianapolis, was missed
at home, with valise and clothing, one
morning, and not until the close of
the third day was his whereabouts
known. At that time he returned,
and reported that on the night of his
disappearance he had gone to bed as
usual, and was soon asleep. He
dreamed that he arose, packed his va
lise, walked to Indianapolis, and took
the Eastern bound cars. His surprise
upon awaking, and finding him
self seventy-fve miles from home can
better be imagined than described.
How he purchased his ticket without
his state being detected by the agent,
and how he slumbered serenely through
sll the din and noise of the great Un-
ion Depot, are among the troublesome
things one can never find out.
Science does not explain all the
facts of somnambulism. The somnam.
bulist, as we have shown, moves about
in the dark as readily as in the light,
fearlessly puts himself in dangerous
positions, securely stands on slippery
places, and execute feats of agility
impossible to him when awake. Some
times he performs difficult work; he
has been known to paint picture in
utter darkness; and to do other acts,
as. required for their execution no
ordinary intelligence in wide-awake
men. And, as in the cases already
presented, when the somnambulist
awakes from his unnatural condition,
he knows literally nothing OF his ex-
traordinary acts.
Occasionally the somnambulist ap-
pears in a humorous character, as did
the woman in the following anecdote,
whose truthfulness is vouched for.
One night a certain grandmother
was awaken by some one fumbling
about the bedroom.
who's there?" she asked.
"Susau," was whined out by the
servant girl.
what are you DOING
"rn trying to find needle and
thread, to sew up the commandments,
answered the fumbling Susan.
"Whst do you mean
"I have broken one of them.
(which ?"
Thou shalt rot steal. ! have beer
stealing your sugar aud giving it t.
Thomas, the girls lover.
"How did you get it to him ?" sh
then inquired.
AIN one of your stockings, and
put it in the hollow tree for him.